Many factors intertwined, foreign aid Dino is actually long destined to return to the Zhejiang team lineup. This time, Dino in the South African media interview confessed: "I have canceled the contract, will never set foot in our country again."
As he waved goodbye, Dino contributed 42 goals for the Zhejiang team and was honored as the top scorer in the team's history. The life of this South African star is also full of legends.
At the end of 2017, Zhejiang team introduced Dino, then vice president of attraction Wu Shao Koon recalled Dino's joining, still palpitating.
In October 2017, Wu Shao Koon watched Champions League footage and was impressed by Dino of Azerbaijani side Karabakh. Unexpectedly, at the end of the year, Dino's agent recommended him to Zhejiang.
"What a coincidence. A player like Dino, who specializes in breakthroughs, was exactly what Serge (then head coach of Zhejiang) was looking for, so we contacted Dino, who showed great interest in coming to play in our country. However, after the contract was finalized, another club in China was also interested in Dino, so fortunately we acted quickly, otherwise we might have been preempted by others." Wu Shao Koon said.
Talking about why he joined the Central League side from the Azerbaijani champions, who had the chance to play in the Champions League, Dino said, "I wanted to challenge elsewhere after taking almost all the honors in Azerbaijan. My country is a new challenge for me, and Greentown's soccer philosophy is very similar to mine, for example, they pay a lot of attention to young players ...... I felt that this is a goal-oriented and dynamic club and decided to come and play."
Foreign media had reported the story of Dino sleeping on the toilet to play soccer, and Dino debunked the rumor, saying, "No, it's purely false."
What exactly happened at that time? Dino rubbed his forehead and put on a pained expression, "It seems like everyone in the world wants to know the story, and it's a long one, so let me figure out how to tell it ......"
At the age of 18, Dino tried out for the Platinum Stars youth team in Johannesburg, South Africa, a powerhouse in the South African Premier League and, in Dino's eyes, a powerhouse. "Platinum Stars knew a bit about me, and to join them it was a three-day trial - I had to train with the team and play with them, but I had to pay for my own food and accommodation." Dino said.
Dino's home is located in a village more than 100 kilometers away from Johannesburg, and it was almost too late to make the round trip by train to catch the morning training. Considering the cost, Dino then chose to spend the night at the train station. For three days of the trial, Dino slept at the train station. "The bench was a little cold, but it was bearable." Dino said, "But it wasn't a toilet, it was a train station bench."
Dino's father, an amateur player, bought Dino his first gift, a soccer ball. "The gift was meaningful, so I got into soccer and started playing with my buddies when I was five or six."
Dino's highlights came in the group stage of the Champions League against tough opponents such as Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Roma. Dino recalled, "Against such opponents, goosebumps rise when you go on the pitch and your whole body is excited. But once the game started, I was fully committed to the game and played pretty well in those games."
Dino's fast integration into the team is inseparable from his superb adaptability. Compared to some foreign aiders who have been playing soccer in China for many years and still can only eat Western food, Dino has long been accustomed to Chinese food. Interestingly enough, Dino's first meal at the base cafeteria was a king's rumpus. The club staff thought he would be surprised and uncomfortable to eat Wang Ba, but did not expect Dino said: "China's tortoise is actually so delicious!"
"I think Chinese food is totally fine, I can eat anything. But if you ask me to say which dish is my favorite, I can't say because I can't really tell what's what. For example, that noodle is delicious." Dino said. When he found out later, it turned out to be Hangzhou people's favorite dish, Piece of Sichuan.
He moves like a rabbit on the court, but I didn't realize that he is quiet in life. Do you know what Dino's biggest hobby is? Sleeping!
"I don't sleep much at night, I sleep a lot during the day." Dino explained. What kind of habit is this, sleeping during the day? The schedule that Dino came up with was even more surprising, "I start sleeping at two in the afternoon, then I get up at eight or nine in the evening, and then later on I sleep when I want to ......"
